Abstract

MEJIA VAZQUEZ, Ángel et al. Colostrum synthesis and development of lambs by effect of soybean oil inclusion in the pre-partum diet of hair ewes. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2017, vol.8, n.1, pp.1-9. ISSN 2448-6698.  https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v8i1.4307.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of the inclusion level of soybean oil (SBO) in the prepartum diet of hair ewes on the colostrum production and composition, development of lambs at d 10 post-lambing and ewe productivity at lambing. A group of pregnant multiparous ewes from Katahdin x Pelibuey genotype were assigned to three treatments (n=10), which consisted of isoenergetic and isoproteic diets containing: 0, 3 and 6 % of SBO/kg dry matter. Diets were offered from d 100 of gestation to lambing. The colostrum weight and volume increased linearly (P<0.05) as the SBO level in diet increased. The rest of variables did not show any linear or quadratic effect (P>0.05) as the SBO level changed from 0 to 6 %. Between ewes fed with or without SBO, or between ewes fed 3 and 6 % of SBO, no difference was detected (P>0.05) on live weight and body condition score of ewes, as well as on colostrum composition, lamb birth weight and litter weight at lambing. In conclusion, the addition of 3 or 6 % of SBO to prepartum diets of hair ewes did not affect the colostrum composition, the development of lambs or the ewe productivity, but affected the colostrum production, being greater when 6 % of SBO was used in the diet.

Keywords : Pregnant ewes; Maternal nutrition; Soybean oil; Calostrum production.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )